By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
American artist Barraque Monfils-Evangelista is expected in Zimbabwe this May for Intellectual Property Workshops in Harare and Bulawayo.
Announcing the gigs, Acting Ambassador Thomas Hastings, Charge d’ Affairs of the Unites States Embassy, said Barraque will also deliver two public performances in Harare and Bulawayo.
“In commemorating World Intellectual Property Day, the Embassy will host in May an Intellectual Property Workshops in Harare and Bulawayo.
“We have invited an American artist, Barraque Monfils-Evangelista, to share his own experience protecting his intellectual property and to facilitate the workshops with local musicians,” Ambassador Hastings said.
Recently, the US embassy handed over his US$1500 to singer Nutty O for winning the Song of the Year Award at the recently held Zimbabwe Music Awards.
Nutty O whose real name is Carrington Simbarashe Chiwadzwa dominated ZIMA 2022 when he won in three categories for Song of the Year — Handipere Power, Best Male Artist and Best Album for Mustard Seed.
Presenting the cash prize, Acting Ambassador Hastings said the US was focusing on growth of the arts industry in Zimbabwe.
“We are honored to sponsor the Song of the Year award in 2022, as a symbol of our greater efforts to strengthen collaborations with the Creative and Cultural Industries in Zimbabwe.
“President Biden has tasked embassies around the world to ensure our efforts bolster an inclusive economy, and part of that commitment includes sustainable growth of the arts industry in Zimbabwe.
“Our range of cultural exchange programs serve to strengthen people to people engagement between Zimbabwean and Americans,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, the Shoulder singer thanked the US Embassy for their commitment to promoting the arts in Zimbabwe.
“I want to say this is very important, this is special to me it’s a special moment, you know what when I was creating the music little did I now that I would end up with this hence you know receiving cash prize and also coming from the US Embassy it’s also special.
“Thanks to the US Embassy it shows support and how determined you’re to support not just only musicians like you mentioned the goal is bigger, it’s broad it goes way deep so I’m honoured to be here and I wanna say thanks to the US embassy and the ambassador and everybody who is here.
This is special moment in history and I hope the work doesn’t end here and I just hope I will continue to deliver and do great music to so that we get to meet everytime. I feel fullfilled because I’ve accomplished something over the years I’ve always wanted to be in this moment where I’d receive a reward or an acknowledgement of the work that I’ve done.
“When I was writing the Mustard Seed coming from the theme that as long as your faith is small as a mustard seed you can move mountains. I’m basically an individual of great faith I believe in the power of thought,” Nutty O said.
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